Montreal appears to be getting closer to getting a new multi-billion dollar transit system.
At the Liberal convention in Montreal Saturday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau didn’t hide his enthusiasm, saying the government is keenly interested in helping pay for an electric train network proposed in the Montreal area.
Trudeau bluntly stated that the project meets all of its criteria for the massive investments the Liberals promised in infrastructure, particularly because it is eco-friendly electric public transit.
“These are exactly the kind of projects we’re excited about,” Trudeau said.
The Caisse de Dépôt pension fund announced earlier this month a train project that would run for 67 kilometres across the island of Montreal, including to the Trudeau airport, Laval, the South Shore, the West Island and Deux-Montagnes, linking 24 stations across the city.
The Caisse said it would invest up to $3 billion and would need another $2.5 billion in federal and provincial money to complete the project.
Trudeau made it clear Ottawa is ready to discuss it.
“We’re looking forward to working with la Caisse de Dépôt to look at how the federal government can be a good partner in this great project. It’s a really positive project for Montrealers,” Trudeau said.
Similar to Vancouver’s subway line, the Montreal train would be fully automated. Trains would run for 20 hours per day, seven days a week and connect the outer reaches of the city to each other.
While trains would not require drivers, the project would create 7,500 jobs during the four-year construction period, the Caisse said.
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre has thrown his support behind the proposal and called for other levels of government to step up to the plate.
"I'm asking the governments of Canada and Quebec to fund this proposal, and I know Premier Philippe Couillard will be willing to fund this," Coderre said last week.
As part of its mandate, the Quebec pension fund often invests in projects in hopes of bringing in a return for its members.
Caisse president Michael Sabia has said the project will only break ground if it is greenlit by the municipal government, if it receives financial support from all levels of government, and if it meets Quebec’s environmental standards.
Sabia added that the new transit line would stimulate plenty of economic benefits for the city.
"The people will win, the economy will win, the environment will win," he said.
With reports from Graham Slaughter at CTVNews.ca and La Presse Canadienne
